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A new statistical model was developed by Dr. Giovanni Leuzzi, M.D. from Regina Elena National Cancer Institute to help determine which patients suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), may benefit from surgery.
MPM is an aggressive type of cancer that affects the chest cavity believed to be caused by repeated exposure to asbestos. Currently, there is no cure for MPM and the protocol for treating MPM is considered controversial. Moreover, the surgical approach is still a matter of debate. The study discovered clinico-surgical factors that will assist physicians to determine the ideal course of therapy for their patients.
The study completed by Dr. Leuzzi included 468 MPM patients who have undergone a surgical procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomyextrapleural pneumonectomyextrapleural pneumonectomyextrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the affected areas of the lung, chest lining, diaphragm and heart lining are removed. EPP, along with radiation and chemotherapy, can be used as a treatment option but can be extremely technical and dangerous with risks factors including hemorrhages, respiratory failure, pneumonia and blood clots. Due to the nature of mesothelioma, at the time of diagnose, the disease has typically reached an advanced stage and surgery is usually not an option. However, sometimes surgery is recommended to remove as much as the cancer as possible, which is usually determined by the stage of the disease, along with the age and health of the patient.
The study revealed that 107 of EPP patients lived another three years after having the surgery. Younger age, a low amount of lymph nodes affected, history of asbestos exposure and an epitheliod subtype of mesothelioma were the most determining influences to long-term survival. The factors discovered from the study allowed a scoring system to be developed for physicians to utilize in order to determine the optimum course of treatment for mesothelioma patients. Moreover, it will also provide information to identify which patients necessitate close attention or more aggressive cancer therapy.
If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos or has been diagnosed with an asbestos–related illness, contact the experienced and knowledgeable Philadelphia asbestos lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. Our highly skilled lawyers can discuss your legal options, as well as help you obtain financial compensation for which you are entitled. Our offices are located in Philadelphia and we serve clients throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Call us for a consultation at (215) 569-4000 or contact us online.